Effects of dopamine on myocardial metabolism in patients with ischaemic heart disease

Abstract

Ten patients with severe obstructions at selective coronary angiography were studied during two periods of control saline infusion and one period of dopamine infusion given at 10 mcg/kg/min. Haemodynamic measurements and duplicate biochemical determinations in coronary sinus and aortic blood were obtained towards the end of each consecutive 8 min period. After dopamine, cardiac output increased 35% (P2, in myocardial extraction ratio of lactate, or in coronary venous blood levels of potassium and calcium. In contrast with isoproterenol and noradrenaline, dopamine can exert its haemodynamic effects without increasing myocardial hypoxia in patients with coronary heart disease. This property represents a theoretical advantage for its use in the therapy of cardiogenic shock and cardiac failure.